Dutch police refuse to protect Jewish sites, citing ‘moral objections’

Some officers even refused food and drink brought from the National Holocaust Museum.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Dutch police chiefs have admitted to altering schedules to accommodate officers who refuse to guard Jewish sites, including the National Holocaust Museum, citing ‘moral objections.’

Mireille Beentjes,  a spokeswoman for the Dutch national police force, told the Telegraaf that individual officers’ objections were taken into account when deciding where they were deployed.

“There is no hard and fast policy,” she said. “The line is that police staff are allowed to have moral objections.”

“We take moral objections into account when we make the rotas. But if there is an urgent job to do they go on duty whether they want to or not,” she added.

One of the leaders of the Dutch Jewish Police Network, Michel Theeboom, said some officers even refused food and drink brought from the National Holocaust Museum.

“During the preparations for security at the Holocaust Museum, there were colleagues who didn’t want to be rostered in,” he said. “You’re allowed to get food and drink in the building while on duty, for example, but they didn’t want to.”

Marcel de Weerd, also of the Jewish Police Network, said that many of the younger officers were ignorant of the history of the Dutch police during World War II and said, “We see that leadership is struggling with this. Especially now, with the conflict in the Middle East, we risk drifting away from what we should stand for as a collective. We need to keep discussing this with each other.”

Dutch National Police Commissioner said that while objections would be taken into account, security would be the top priority.

“Police staff are people, and they have the right to their own views and the emotions that go with them,” she said. “But where people’s security is concerned that is our top priority. We are here for everyone.”

Justice Minister  David van Weel said it was “unacceptable” that officers could refuse to guard Jewish buildings and events citing “moral dilemmas.”

“I can’t stop what people think, feel or believe,” he said. “But you should leave it at home. As a police officer, as soon as you put on your uniform you have a job to do, and that job is totally neutral.”

Dutch-Israel relationsEuropean antisemitismHolocaust memorial